and send we to the court, in almsman’s guise, and dwell in the court, with the high king, and every day pass through all the people; and go to the king’s dole, as if they were infirm, and among the poor people hearken studiously if man might with craft, by day or by night, in Winchester’s town come to Uther Pendragon, and kill the king with murder;”—­then were (would be) their will wholly accomplished, then were they careless of Constanine’s kin.  Now went forth the knights all by daylight, in almsman’s clothes—­knights most wicked—­to the king’s court—­there they harm wrought.  They went to the dole, as if they were infirm, and hearkened studiously of the king’s sickness, how men might put the king to death.  Then met they with a knight, from the king he came forth-right; he was Uther’s relation, and dearest of men to him.  These deceivers, where they sate along the street, called to the knight with familiar words:  “Lord, we are wretched men in this world’s realm; whilom we were in land accounted for good men, until Saxish men set us adown, and bereaved us of all, and our possessions took from us.  Now we sing beads (prayers) for Uther the king; each day in a meal our meat faileth; cometh never in our dish neither flesh nor any fish, nor any kind of drink but a draught of water, but water clean—­therefore we are thus lean.”

The knight heard this; back he went forth-right, and came to the king, where he lay in chamber, and said to the king:  “Lord, be thou in health!  Here out sit six men, alike in hue, all they are companions, and clothed with hard hair-cloth.  Whilom they were in this world’s realm goodly thanes, and filled with goods; now have Saxish men set them to ground, so that they are in the world accounted for wretches, they have not at board but bread alone, nor for their drink but water draughts.  Thus they lead their life in thy people, and bid their beads, that God will let thee long live.”  Then quoth Uther the king:  “Let them come in hither, I will them clothe, and I will them feed, for the love of my Lord, the while that I live.”  The treacherous men came into the chamber, the king caused them to be fed, the king caused them to be clothed, and at night each laid them on his bed.  And each on his part aspied earnestly how they might kill the king with murder, but they might not through anything kill Uther the king, nor through any craft might come to him.

Then happened it on a time, the rain it gan to pour; then called there a leech, where he lay in the chamber, to a chamber-knight, and ordered him forth-right to run to the well, that was near the hall, and set there a good swam, to keep it from the rain.—­“For the king may not enjoy no draught in the world but the cold well stream, that is to him pleasant; that is for his sickness best of all draughts.”  This speech forth-right heard these six knights—­to harm they were prompt—­and went out by night forth to the well—­there they harm wrought.  Out they drew soon fair phials, filled with poison,